Clemente 30 Years After His Tragic Death, The Influence Of Baseball's First Hispanic Superstar Is Stronger Than Ever.

Baseball 2002 - Remembering The Man

Remembering The Man

March 31, 2002|By George Diaz, Sentinel Staff Writer

His son Luis is in Puerto Rico, working with the Roberto Clemente Sports City complex. His son Roberto Jr. runs the foundation in Pittsburgh and works as an announcer for ESPN Deportes. He is also working on an independent documentary on his father's life, hoping it will "open more eyes."

"When people talk to me about him, they are talking about someone who is vivid in life," Roberto Jr. said. "I have come to the conclusion that I do believe in the work of angels and that they do live among us. He was one of the chosen ones."

There are so many memories, from those who loved him as a brother, from those who hated him as a competitive thorn in the lineup, to today's players who have crossed into North American borders, thanks to the road map drawn with Clemente's sacrifices.

"When I was playing baseball, I always heard that Roberto Clemente was the best player out of Puerto Rico, and I wanted to follow his footsteps," said New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, a Puerto Rican. "And just like me, there are many others who are playing today because they followed his dream."

Clemente's dream is a vibrant one, rich in textures far beyond the dreary black and white landscape of a time when a man was judged by his skin color or the name on the back of his jersey.

It was a time when you could stick "Bob" Clemente in a pack of cheap baseball cards, oblivious to the majestic presence of Roberto Clemente, a man who always remained true to himself, and a heritage laced with the rich scent of Puerto Rico's sugar cane fields.